CHILDREN at St Anne's Catholic Primary School can now enjoy home-grown produce, thanks to Tesco.

The school received £1,500 through Tesco’s Fruit & Veg Grants scheme, having been chosen by customers across 16 Tesco stores in Liverpool. The funding will go towards creating a vegetable garden where pupils can learn about growing their own food, healthy eating, and the importance of fresh produce.

Pupils will be at the heart of the project, taking an active role in preparing raised beds, selecting what to grow, planting seeds, caring for the plants and harvesting the produce, with support from the school's gardening club.

Children from all year groups will have opportunities to get involved through lessons, outdoor learning and practical gardening activities, taking their learning beyond the classroom.

The produce will be used to give pupils the opportunity to prepare and taste the food they have grown themselves, helping them experience the journey from seed to plate.

Any surplus produce will be shared with the school’s cookery club and the wider school community.

Gill Murphy, Headteacher at St Anne's Catholic Primary School, said:- “The vegetable garden will give our pupils the opportunity to learn in a fun, practical way, developing a better understanding of where food comes from and the benefits of healthy eating. It will also be particularly valuable for our pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), providing practical, sensory-rich learning experiences while developing responsibility and teamwork. We are grateful to Tesco and the people of Liverpool for supporting our vegetable garden, which will provide a sustainable learning resource that can be enjoyed by pupils year after year.”

The grant forms part of Tesco’s Fruit & Veg Grants scheme, which awards funds of £500, £1,000, and £1,500 to charities and community organisations to help make a positive difference to children and improve their access to free fruit and vegetables to support a healthy, nutritious diet.

Claire de Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said:- “We’re delighted that we can help support schools, community groups and clubs in Liverpool. St Anne's Catholic Primary School are doing amazing work for the children there and we’re encouraging more schools and community groups to apply for funding for projects that help children access healthy food, learn where it comes from and build healthier habits.”

Tesco’s Fruit & Veg Grants scheme, delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, provides funding to local schools and community groups to help bring healthy eating projects to life. The scheme forms part of Tesco’s wider Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, which aims to help one million children access free fruit and vegetables and build healthier habits for the future.
 
To apply for Fruit & Veg Grants scheme funding, visit this link.